Tea bag

ABSTRACT

An improved tea bag has a pouch containing tea and a string connected to the pouch. A securing element is connected to the string. The securing element is releaseably attachable to an object such as a tea cup or tea pot.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an improved tea bag. More particularly,the present invention relates to a securing element for maintaining oneend of a string associated with the tea bag.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37CFR 1.97 and 1.98

In the brewing of tea, the tea is often enclosed in a porous bag whichis maintained in heated water. A string is generally attached to the teabag for convenient insertion into and removable of the tea bag from theheated water which is held in a container.

In the process of brewing tea, the public has found that stirring and/orpressing on the tea bag while it is in the heated water will speed upthe brewing of the tea. While so stirring or pressing on the tea bagwith a spoon, for example, the tea bag string will often fall into thewater. The person brewing the tea must then retrieve the tea bag string.

Sometimes, without thinking, the person brewing the tea will attempt toretrieve the tea bag string with their fingers which will result in aburn or scalding from the heated water. Even if the tea bag string issuccessfully retrieved without injury, the person will resultantly havewet fingers from later touching of the string during removal of the teabag from the water.

The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of theproblems, as set forth above.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A tea bag has a porous pouch containing tea and a string having firstand second end portions with said first end portion being attached tothe pouch. A securing element is connected to the second end portion ofthe string. The securing element is releaseably attachable to an object.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tea cup holding the improved tea bagof this invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial view of the improved tea bag of this inventionshowing a preferred securing element;

FIG. 3 is a partial view of the improved tea bag of this inventionshowing the preferred securing element connected to the string via apaper tab;

FIG. 4 is a partial view of the improved tea bag of this inventionshowing another type securing element;

FIG. 5 is a partial view of the improved tea bag of this inventionshowing the securing element of FIG. 4 connected to the string via apaper tab; and

FIG. 6 is a partial view of the improved tea bag of this inventionshowing yet another type securing element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a tea bag 10 has a porous pouch 12 containing tea14 and a string 14 having first and second end portions 16,18. The firstend portion 16 of the string 14 is attached to the pouch 12 forinsertion into and removal of the tea bag 10 from a container 19 forbrewing tea such as a tea cup 20, a tea pot 22, as shown in FIG. 5 or aglass container 24 which is adapted for brewing what is known as sun teaand which is shown in FIG. 6.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, securing element 26, such as glue 28, isconnected to the second end portion 18 of the string 14. The glue 28 ispreferably of the type easily releasable from an object and which is notharmful when contacted by a human. An example of such glue is the typethat are used to temporarily stick paper notes to an object.

FIG. 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the invention wherein the glue 28is connected to the string 14 via a paper tab 30 which is in turnconnected to the string 14.

FIG. 4 show another embodiment where the securing element 26 is a stripof clinging type organic plastic 32, such as Saran Wrap™. This plasticstrip 32 type securing element can be directly connected to the string14, as shown in FIG. 2 with relation to the glue 28, or connected to thestring 14 via a paper tab as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment where the securing element 26 is onepart 34 of a two part 34, 36 hook and eye type fastening element 38which is shown being used on a tea pot 40. The one part 34 of the twopart 34,36 hook and eye type fastening element 38 is connected to thestring 14 and the other part is connected to a sidewall of the tea pot22, or a glass container 24 as shown in FIG. 6, or the tea cup 20 asshown in FIG. 1. An example of a two part hook and eye element 38 isVelcro™.

Other aspects, objects and advantages of this invention can be obtainedfrom a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims.

1. In a tea bag having a porous pouch containing tea and a string havingfirst and second end portions, said first end portion being attached tothe pouch, the improvement comprising: a securing element connected tothe second end portion of the string, said element being releaseablyattachable to an object.
 2. An improved tea bag, as set forth in claim1, wherein the securing element is glue.
 3. An improved tea bag, as setforth in claim 2, including a paper tab and wherein the glue isconnected to the paper tab which is connected to the second end portionof the string.
 4. An improved tea bag, as set forth in claim 1, whereinthe securing element is a strip of clinging type organic plastic.
 5. Animproved tea bag, as set forth in claim 4, including a paper tab andwherein the clinging type organic plastic is connected to the paper tabwhich is connected to the second end portion of the string.
 6. Animproved tea bag, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the securing elementis one part of a two part hook and eye type fastening element.
 7. Animproved tea bag, as set forth in claim 6, including a container andwherein the other part of the hook and eye type fastening element partis connected to a sidewall of the container into which the tea bag isinsertable.
 8. An improved tea bag, as set forth in claim 7, wherein thecontainer is a tea pot.
 9. An improved tea bag, as set forth in claim 7,wherein the container is a tea cup.
 10. An improved tea bag, as setforth in claim 7, wherein the container is formed of glass and adaptedfor brewing sun tea.